EU information about the transition to ICS2 Release 2

(The information on this page comes from the EU website.)

Due to the fact that not all Member States are ready to implement ICS2 Release 2 on 1st March 2023, the following arrangements have been made by the EU Commission. (Import Control System 2 - Release 2 (europa.eu)

These arrangements are extremely important to make sure that the security and safety of the EU is maintained across the EU external border and to prevent a delay in handling the incoming goods.

It is strongly recommended that EU and non-EU established air carriers and the Member States customs authorities implement transition to ICS2 Release 2 applying the following coordinated approach, depending on the specific scenario:

Air carriers operating their direct flights from non-EU countries only in the Member State where their EORI number is registered, if ready, they can connect to ICS2 Release 2 and start ENS filing on 1st March 2023. Otherwise, they must request a deployment window in that Member State to connect to ICS2 Release 2 anytime between 1st March 2023 and 1st July 2023.
Air carriers operating their direct flights from non-EU countries to one or several Member States that are connected to ICS2 Release 2, if ready, they can connect to ICS2 Release 2 and start ENS filing on 1st March 2023. Otherwise, they must request a deployment window in that Member State to connect to ICS2 Release 2 anytime between 1st March 2023 and 1st July 2023.
Air carriers operating direct flights from non-EU countries to several Member States of which one, more or all Member States are subject to derogation, should request for a deployment window from the Member State of EORI registration, until the date when all affected Member States are connected to ICS2 Release 2, but at the latest until 1st July 2023.

The updated information about the plans of start of operation of the Member States will be published on the Europa ICS2 Webpage (Import Control System 2 - Release 2 (europa.eu) in the second half of March 2023.

Each air carrier should assess their own situation of how they operate direct flights from third countries into the EU airports of entry and proceed depending on the scenario valid for it accordingly. Even if the air carrier is in a position to connect to ICS2 Release 2 between 1st March 2023 and 30th June 2023, it should make this careful assessment and it is recommended to adjust its plan of deployment based on the above scenarios.

This approach enables the customs authorities to target and control the shipments at the border at the most efficient method available, using smooth and efficient procedures that will not hamper the fluidity of trade in airports.

Further actions required

Please sent your request for the appropriate deployment window no later than April 1 to Douane.implementatie.ics2.ato@douane.nl. Even if you have already submitted a request to the competent Member State (where the EORI number of the economic operator is registered). It is important to assess your own situation and to compare it with de plans of start of operation of the Member States as mentioned above.
The competent Member State will decide on the request.
The air carriers that are granted with a deployment window, continue applying the current procedures of submitting Entry Summary Declaration (ENS) to ICS1 during the granted deployment window period.
It is important to note, that at the moment when the economic operator is ready with its ICS2 Release 2 deployment, at the date agreed with the customs authority of the competent EU Member State, the start of ICS2 Release 2 operation of that economic operator also applies in all other EU Member States (and Norway and Switzerland).